Animal Evaluation and Welfare Specialist

Posting Date

04/10/25

Application Deadline

04/15/25

Pay Range

$21.00 - $30.00 Hourly

Salary offers are based on the candidate's equivalent experience and internal equity with other employees within the same job classification. This position is eligible for overtime compensation for all hours worked over 40 in the designated workweek.

Job Type

Unclassified

Department

Animal Care and Control

About the Position

The Animal Evaluation and Welfare Specialist is responsible for the behavioral evaluations, daily enrichment, and monitoring of the animals in our care.  You will lead behavior evaluations, monitor animal behavior in the shelter, and oversee playgroups, enrichment preparation, and activities to reduce fear, anxiety, and stress in animals under care. This position requires the employee to be in the office and or customer-facing for all hours worked.

Must be flexible to work at either our West or East shelter locations as needed.

East Shelter: 1920 S. Lewis, Mesa, AZ 85210
West Shelter: 2500 S. 27th Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85009

About Us

Maricopa County Animal Care & Control employees are committed to animal welfare and strengthening the human-animal bond in our community, and we are always looking to add talented individuals to our team, either at our West or East Valley Animal Care Centers. As one of the nation’s largest open-admission shelters, we work with our community to serve the animals and people of Maricopa County. Our adoptions, shelter, clinic, and animal services officer teams learn firsthand about proper care of homeless and stray animals and work hard to help find them new homes.

Proud to Offer

• Work with a greater purpose

• Tuition reimbursement

• Exceptional work-life balance

• Opportunities for growth and development within Maricopa County

• Low-cost, high-value healthcare for you and your qualifying dependents

• Child care benefits, including access to our upcoming on-site center Maricopa County Kids Club, dedicated to serving Maricopa County families exclusively

• Paid vacation, sick time, and parental leave

• Extensive wellness program, including healthcare premium discounts

• Maricopa County participates in the Arizona State Retirement System. This defined retirement benefit requires a 12.27% monthly contribution rate and includes a 100% employer match on Day 1

• Learn more at Work With Us | Maricopa County, AZ

We Require

• Two years of experience in an animal shelter, animal rescue, or similar facility directly handling dogs of a variety of sizes, temperaments, and dispositions

• High school Diploma or higher

• Must be flexible and able to work all shifts, which include starting as early as 5 am and finishing as late as 7 pm, working weekends and holidays, determined by the needs of the Department

• Must possess, or have the ability to obtain by time of hire, a valid Arizona driver’s license

We Also Value

• Animal behavior certifications such as CPDT-KA, CBCC-KA, KPA-CTP, CTC or equivalent

• Fear Free Shelters certification or must be obtained within the first month of employment

• Experience performing dog-to-dog introductions or playgroups in a shelter-like environment

• Experience leading or working directly with volunteers in an animal welfare setting

• 6 months or more performing dog-to-dog introductions or playgroups, preferably in a shelter or rescue environment.

Job Contributions

• Ensure timely completion of behavior evaluations for animals ending their hold period, assigning handling levels, requirements, and recommendations, or submitting for review of alternate pathways to reduce length of stay

• Assist with handling for out-of-kennel enrichment activities such as Playgroups, dog-to-dog introductions, and Runbuddy by overseeing dog selection, staff/volunteer handling and assignments, overall monitoring, and intervening and assisting with emergent situations

• Review and complete all requested follow-up behavior evaluations on animals to make sure their assigned handling level is still accurate and still meets adoption criteria

• Oversee and complete daily monitoring of in-kennel stress for animals, reviewing animals’ previous observations and adding indicated animals to daily behavior monitoring while submitting animals for higher-level review when necessary

• Act as lead for directing, guiding, and coaching staff and volunteers in the performance and completion of daily shelter enrichment activities, including playgroups, out-of-kennel enrichment, and in-kennel enrichment. Train and mentor new staff and volunteers on playgroup and enrichment processes and procedures

• Perform click for quiet routine daily with animals in their kennels to improve in-kennel behavior

• Assist other divisions as needed as a skilled or secondary handler

• Assist other divisions as needed to complete necessary daily shelter operations not limited to cleaning kennels, adoption meet and greets, releasing dogs, etc., and other duties as assigned

Working Conditions

• Fast-paced animal shelter environment with exposure to extreme and varying temperatures, dogs and cats with unknown temperaments and behaviors, excessive noise, animal waste and fluids, deceased animals, cleaning chemicals, and zoonotic diseases

• Required to handle animals

• Must be able to lift up to 20-25 lbs. occasionally, 10-25 lbs. frequently, or up to 10 lbs. constantly

• A commitment to using positive reinforcement and fear-free training methods when engaging with dogs in our care

• Must complete animal handling training within 3 months of hire

Selection Procedure

• Only the most qualified candidates will be considered

• Consideration will only be given to candidates who submit online applications

• Candidates will be contacted primarily through email and their Workday online application profile

• Must pass a pre-employment background and/or fingerprint investigation as required by statute or policy, including drug and alcohol testing requirements for positions designated as safety-sensitive

Maricopa County is an equal opportunity employer.

Apply Now!